Do you know what’s in your food?

There is a popular commercial in which dog owners attempt to pronounce the names of the ingredients in their dog’s brand of food.  Most persons struggled to identify the various ingredients and it was revealed that most of the ingredients were additives and preservatives.

The point the advertisers made about animals receiving unnecessary an potentially harming chemicals in their diet can also be made about products made for human consumption.

Additives & Preservatives – A necessary evil?

We would all like to think that our food still has some nutritional value by the time it reaches our table.  Often however, the nutrients have been so corrupted by over processing that the final product only vaguely resembles its original state.

The main reason why a number of products use chemical additives, is to prolong the shelf life of the product.  Some chemicals also enhance the taste of the product and results in additional sales.

What though about the health risks?

Health Risks

• Breathing Difficulties

Products which use aspartame, sulfites, benzoates and yellow dye No. 5 as preservatives have been identified by various scientific research as a catalyst that could exacerbate breathing problems in asthmatics and others, while Medical News Today linked sulphites with shortness of breath and other breathing problems.

• Behavioral Changes

According to the Archives of Disease in Children, in a 2003 double-blind study of 1,873 children the consumption of food additives and preservatives led to significant increase in hyperactive behaviour.

• Obesity

A number of additives also affect your body’s ability to heal quickly and can lead to excessive weight gain.

These health risks make it very important to consider what we are putting on our plate! Of course we can not avoid all processed foods.  The fact is though that it is vital that we do not include in our diet too much food that has been filled with chemical additives.

It is much better to eat fresh vegetables and fruits instead of frozen and to continue to ‘grow what we eat’ in order to eliminate the need for unhealthy preservatives.

All consumers need to examine the ingredients listed on products before they buy to ensure they are making the best choices for them and their family.

What’s your take? Let me hear from you!

Teri Ann Renee Paisley

Gleaner online writer

Tags: preservatives